Texas Border Business
Students and alumni of South Texas College had the opportunity to meet face-to-face with more than 80 hiring employers during the annual Spring Career and Employer Expo, an event designed to bridge the gap between education and workforce.
Organized by STC’s Career and Employer Services, the event brought in students and graduates from across the college’s 130 programs ranging from Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) to health care, to explore full-time and part-time positions and internship opportunities.
“This event is all about connecting our STC talent with employers who are actively hiring,” said Celinda Salinas, director of Career and Employer Services. “We work hard to bring in companies that align with the college’s programs, whether it’s an associate, certificate or bachelor’s degree.”
One of the participating employers, Spikes Ford, is currently hiring for multiple departments, including accounting, mechanics and sales, according to Jorge Escobedo, who runs the marketing department at Spikes, shared his excitement about the event’s growing impact.
“This is our second year here, we see more people and more energy,” said Escobedo. “We’re really excited to be part of this event and connect with students who might not have considered careers in sales or service until now.”
The expo attracted students from all over the Rio Grande Valley, including online learners. Psychology student Elizabeth Flores, mother of three taking classes at STC fully online, attended in hopes of finding a position where she could work with children on the autism spectrum disorder.
” “I’ve been a stay-at-home mom for seven years, so to be given the opportunity to attend a job fair, like the one hosted by STC, has a great impact on my success and my journey,” she said. “I expect to graduate in December, and I’ve found numerous companies that I’m interested in. Preparing to graduate and looking for a job is overwhelming, but this helps a lot. Thank you, STC.”
Salinas emphasized that the expo is also open to recent STC graduates and alumni.
“We market heavily to our graduates from the past year, those who are about to graduate and even students looking for internships,” she said. “This is a great place to network and learn about opportunities available to them.”
In preparation for the expo, STC offers a variety of support services to help students polish their professional skills. These include resume assistance, mock interviews and a digital platform called Big Interview, where students can practice their interviewing skills virtually and at their own pace.
Hosted every April, just before commencement, the Spring Career and Employer Expo continues to grow each year. Salinas said the event reflects STC’s commitment to not just educating students, but preparing them to confidently enter the workforce.
“Our goal is to meet students where they are whether that’s in-person, online or somewhere in between, and help them take the next step toward their career,” she said.
For more information on the services offered by STC’s Career and Employer Services, visit https://studentservices.southtexascollege.edu/careerservices/.
